Why Should I Complete the FAFSA?

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid; translation: free government money to help you pay for school!

Elizabeth Hoyt

September 05, 2017

Let’s start with a little bit about what the FAFSA actually is. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid; translation: it determines a student’s eligibility for need-based federal financial aid for college, which may include grants, scholarships, work-study and loans. If eligible, it can really help you pay for school!

If the words “help you pay for school" aren’t incentive enough, here are some additional details of why it’s beneficial for you to fill out your FAFSA form:

Rumor has it…I don’t have to fill out a FAFSA form if I’m not looking for federal aid.

In reality…why would you turn down help to get an education? That’s just silly!

Even still, it may be necessary if you’re applying for other forms of financial aid through the state, your college and, sometimes, privately-sponsored scholarships.

Rumor has it…it costs money to apply for money.

In reality…that’s just false! It’s free to fill out (and free to see if you’re eligible for federal aid, too!).

In reality…you should forget about the tedious, time-consuming government form that FAFSA used to be – the form has been revamped and simplified!

Filling out the FAFSA is now easier than ever before and usually takes less than a half hour to complete (23 minutes on average) to entirely fill out.

Rumor has it…that my family makes too much money/my grades aren’t good enough/I’m too old, so I’ll never qualify for financial aid.

In reality…tons of students qualify for financial aid – probably a lot more than you think!

All of the above reasons not to fill out the FAFSA are falsehoods – don’t let rumors stop you from getting financial aid that’s meant for every type of student!

Don’t miss out on opportunities for financial aid!

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